Plant Trees

With your help, DoE planted close to 850 native trees last year. Find
out how DoE makes it easy and affordable for you to plant trees at home,
at work, and in your community.

Everyone knows that trees
grace our lives with beauty, but trees also enhance our lives in very
practical ways. When we “treevitalize” our communities, we reap the
rewards!

According to TreeBaltimore,
when you add these benefits together, a reasonable estimate of the
economic and environmental benefits provided over the life of a single
tree is $57,000.

Trees Protect Water Quality
One of the most overlooked and underappreciated benefits of trees is their ability to reduce the volume of water rushing through gutters and pipes following a storm. This means:

Cleaner water when the runoff reaches rivers and lakes

Enough groundwater to maintain summer streamflow

Less investment in expensive infrastructure

Reduced risk of local flooding

Tree leaves and needles break the force of rain, slowing the movement of water and reducing water pollution, runoff and flooding. In addition, tree roots and leaf litter create soil conditions that promote the infiltration of rainwater into the soil.

Additional Tree Benefits

From the air we breathe to the value of our homes to the health of our local waterways, there are many benefits to incorporating trees in urban landscapes. Trees also give shelter to wildlife, cool our communities, muffle noise and provide privacy. Overall, trees increase property values, save energy, add beauty and grace to our communities, and become a priceless heritage for future generations.

Start Planting Native Trees. DoE Programs Can Help!

DoE has several programs to assist residents with planting new trees around their homes and communities.

Rain Check Rebate Program (PDF) makes planting a tree at home or work more affordable than ever! Prince George’s County will reimburse the purchase price for tree(s) up to $150 per tree on residential or commercial properties.